Evaluation of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f) stands for establishing seed production areas in West Bengal

Abstract

Long-term afforestation programmes are continuously practiced by State Forest Departments (SFDs) to increase forest cover in India. A large quantity of quality seeds is required for producing quality planting materials every year. The development of seed production areas (SPAs) is a method that can be used to obtain genetically improved seeds for immediate planting. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f) is one of the species preferred by SFDs in India for plantation purposes due to its high timber value. Previously, the Directorate of Forests, West Bengal, established ten Seed Stands (SSs) of teak in three Silviculture divisions of West Bengal. In the present study, these SSs (five SSs in the Hills Division, four SSs in the North Plains Division and one SS in the South Division) were evaluated by verification on the basis of area, tree density, isolation zone and tree health. SSs were studied thoroughly to recommend culling inferior trees to convert them to SPAs. Trees with poor phenotypic characteristics, such as slow growth, crooked stem form, attack by pest or disease, were recommended for culling. Out of the ten SSs, five (2/TG/BAMON, 3/TG/BAMON, 3/TG/TUKR, 8/TG/REHTI and 9/TG/ATIA) were considered to be SPAs. Cumulatively, 8.86 hectares of land with 829 trees from the hills division and 15 ha of land with 1712 trees from the North Plains division were chosen for inclusion in the SPAs. Phenotypic data estimation revealed that the maximum average height was 8/TG/REHTI (33.19±2.65 m), and the average GBH was 2/TG/BAMON (2.02±0.54 m). The seed production capability of the selected SPAs was also calculated. On the basis of the average seed yield/tree, the 8/TG/REHTI stand produced the highest seed yield of 2.0 (±0.9) kg/tree.

Keywords

• Afforestation
• Conservation
• QPMs
• Seed yield
• Tree improvement